Cough and cold medicines can pose serious risks to young children.
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are the best way to help a child with a cold feel better, but according to Dr. Jay L. Hoecker, a pediatric specialist and emeritus physician at Mayo Clinic, we must take certain precautions and offers us some practical advice on how to treat a cold in the little ones at home.
What is the problem with cough and cold medicines in children?
The role of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines is to treat these symptoms, but they do not effectively treat the hidden disease. Studies suggest that these drugs have not been shown to work better than inactive drugs (placebo). Most importantly, these medications can have potentially serious side effects, including fatal overdoses, in children younger than 2 years.
Except for medicines that reduce fever or relieve pain, do not give a child under 6 any over-the-counter medicine to treat a cough or cold. Also, consider avoiding using those medications in children under the age of 12.
What about antibiotics?
Antibiotics work to fight bacterial infections, but they have no effect on viruses, which are what cause colds. If a boy or girl has a cold, antibiotics will not help. The more antibiotics the child consumes, the more likely it is that he will become ill in the future with an antibiotic-resistant infection.
Can any medication help treat the common cold?
An over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can reduce fever and soothe a sore throat. However, it is important to remember that fever is generally harmless and that the main purpose of treating children is to help them feel better.
If the child is given a pain reliever, the dosing instructions should be followed carefully. Acetaminophen should not be given to a child younger than 3 months old until the doctor has seen it ; Nor should ibuprofen be given to a child younger than 6 months or to children who are constantly vomiting or who are dehydrated. Also, be careful with aspirin.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a serious warning against codeine to treat cough and pain, as well as the narcotic tramadol to treat pain in children younger than 12 years old. The reason is that they carry possible serious side effects, such as slow or labored breathing.